The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

In the olden days there was quite a bit of buying and selling in the parking lot prior to the official start of the sale. The rules have changed. Presently on late Thursday afternoon, the dealers have one hour to bring things into the sale area and drop them off. The purpose is to allow sellers just to bring things inside the building and not to set up their booths. I personally have never seen anything sell during this time. I believe the intent was to even the playing field between dealers and early buyers and I think it has been successful. The doors open at the same time for dealers and early buyers on Friday and Saturday mornings. The official start of the sale is Saturday morning. Early admission is $40 and is good for the weekend. Regular Saturday admission is an hour later and is $9. My advice:

Pay the $40 early admission and be there when the doors open on Friday morning, June 8th.
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On Saturday evening, June 9th, plan on the open house at Jasper Sanfilippo's. This is a MUST!!! There's a modest contribution, $15 to $20, but well worth it.
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Bring cash. Even though I'm your friend, I prefer cash sales because I take that cash and spend it with someone else. It would be interesting to see how many times a $100 bill changes hands at Union.
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Have fun! Stop at our booth near the bar and introduce yourself. Jerry Blais

The Donleys have tried to maintain the quality of the Union Show by discouraging "a show before the show." People started showing up earlier and earlier in the week (Tuesday or Wednesday), so they finally put their foot down.

There have been attempts by others, most notably a Lutheran church in Elgin, to cash in on the Union Show by offering a Thursday "pre-show." Again, the Donleys have encouraged their regular dealers not to set up at these pre-shows. One well-known record dealer was banned by the Donleys because he supported the Church pre-show.

Here's the Union Show advert:

http://www.wildwesttown.com/CalendarPDF ... W%20AD.pdf

I've never attended the church function but it seems to me it's just a response to a demand the current arrangements don't meet.

Personally I liked it better when people were allowed to trade in the lot on Thursday, more for socializing than buying or selling. Everybody in the lot paid their early buyer fee anyway so...

Valecnik wrote:I've never attended the church function but it seems to me it's just a response to a demand the current arrangements don't meet.

Personally I liked it better when people were allowed to trade in the lot on Thursday, more for socializing than buying or selling. Everybody in the lot paid their early buyer fee anyway so...

I *have* attended the pre-sale in Elgin and had a great time buying stuff and meeting people. Elgin is so far removed from Union that it is beyond the Donley's jurisdiction. Donley's control of people ends at the edge of their property in Union. What happens in Elgin or Outer Slambovia has nothing to do with them.

Are the early tickets available in advance or just before they open? Will there be a sale in Elgin this year? I am trying to figure out how early we need to leave and what days to book at the RV park.

phonogal wrote:Are the early tickets available in advance or just before they open? Will there be a sale in Elgin this year? I am trying to figure out how early we need to leave and what days to book at the RV park.

pay at the door, unless you win one of the admission ticket auctions by the goodoldboys (sp?) on ebay.